What advice would you give to someone feeling discouraged or doubtful about their entrepreneurial journey?

Good evening,

All of these responses are awesome!! I will add that remember every day is a new day restart. Everyday is not going to bed of roses so on the day the roses don’t bloom…get up and give them some love and encourage them to bloom.

My advice is to remember that setbacks don’t define your future. In 2015, I was diagnosed with **bleep** cancer after spending more than 20 years in the IT industry. During treatment, I wasn’t sure what the next chapter of my life would look like. What started as reconnecting with a woodworking skill I learned in middle school eventually became Restoration Hero. Today, eleven years later, we’ve served more than 1,200 clients and grown into a team of skilled technicians serving both residential and commercial customers across Atlanta. Entrepreneurship isn’t always about moving fast. Sometimes it’s about taking the next step, even when you can’t see the entire path ahead. Stay focused, keep learning, and don’t let a difficult season convince you to give up on a future that may be bigger than you can imagine today.

I am starting my business in the middle of one of the hardest seasons of my life. I am medically retiring from the United States Army, managing my mental health, and living out of moving boxes with no bathroom, no kitchen, and an open sewage pipe in my home that a contractor left behind. They didn’t do the job right. They caused serious damage, left raw sewage exposed, and when I reached out for help, all they wanted was more money. They took advantage of me at one of the most vulnerable moments of my life and walked away.

Most people would have given up. I chose to learn every skill needed to fix it myself, and that decision changed everything. 

What started as survival became my purpose.

I realized that my community is full of people just like me  hardworking people who are struggling and vulnerable to being taken advantage of by people who see dollar signs instead of human beings. So I made a commitment: I am going to build this business from the ground up and make sure my neighbors have someone they can trust. Someone who won’t price gouge them. Someone who genuinely shows up, cares, and finishes the job the right way.

If you are feeling discouraged, I want you to know this: your hardest moment might be exactly where your purpose is born.I am building my business from rock bottom literally. No bathroom. No kitchen. A leaking roof. An open sewage pipe. Just faith, skills, resilience, and a mission to serve others. I plan to share my story and videos on my YouTube channel the Evolved Chapter because I want everyone to know no matter what situation you’re in you can evolve.

If I can start from here, so can you.

There's only one YOU. You earned what you have, and you deserve your success. Every failure is a stepping stone to a victory. If it feels like the end, don't stop... It's only the beginning. 💪

04/06/2026 was the very first day I embarked on my journey as the owner of Bell’s Mobile Mechanic company. I got let go from the company I was working for. I had been in my career for over 15 years worked for multiple companies in the skills trade industry as a Maintenance Technician II. In 15+ years I seen multiple layoffs, been let go due to company down sizing, and many other reasons. I took a leap of faith by starting my own business. No money coming in made a post on facebook. Got a few leads the first week thought everything would be okay second week nothing, third week more leads, 4 week just a few leads. Ready to give up and find another maintenance job. But I haven’t still trying. 3 days into the sixth week and I’m still not sure if I made the right decision. But I said all that to say this. Yesterday I noticed what I had done wrong with choosing my leads, so I have adult ADHD, if I choose jobs to work on that require a lot of time to finish then I will not be successful because there are too many things that can cause me to chase a squirrel so to speak. But if I choose jobs that are less time consuming I can get multiple opportunities to work on other things because I allow myself to have more time. I’m not good at giving advice but that’s how I see myself helping myself with getting discouraged 

Do a quick health check.  We as people in general have a few pillars we need to be aware of or, legs on a stool. 

1. How is your physical health? I know I should probably drink more clear water than beautiful brown bean water (coffee), but I have a wife who makes sure I eat well and have a lunch. Are you taking time to exercise? You don't need to be bench-pressing or deadlifting 500 pounds (kudos if you can) but get outside and go for a walk. remember to breath. Seriously. In fact, as you read this inhale through your nose while counting to 4, now exhale for another 4 count.  *A body in motion tends to stay in motion, a body at rest, rusts.*
2. How is your mental health? are you taking time to do something you enjoy, owning a business is hard work, you need to schedule so much... INCLUDING mental health breaks. you may do less of a hobby, but don't skip it altogether. *Go find something to laugh about and someone to laugh with*
3. How is your spiritual health? Do you believe in a higher power? Do you have a community to lean on during the hard times? *There have been some crazy studies showing the power of prayer*

These are my basic three legs on a stool if one is weak you will fall over. 

Also, as this community will show/remind you. you are not an island unto yourself and y'all can reach out to me if you need a lift or a listening ear.

Sincerely,

Jeremy Spring, Simply Professional Inspections.

Feeling discouraged is completely normal, especially in the early days when results don't match the effort. My advice is to focus on daily systems instead of big outcomes. Track your small wins, review your numbers weekly, and remember that every successful entrepreneur you admire has felt exactly what you're feeling right now. The difference is they kept showing up. Connect with other business owners who are a few steps ahead, they can remind you the doubt doesn't mean you're failing, it means you're growing.

I love the saying, being a business owner is not about winning, it is about being the last man standing. That sits with us daily. The days we feel like we are winning and the days we feel like we are losing. One task, one job, one email at a time. Endure.

Entrepreneurship comes with challenges, and feeling discouraged at times is part of the process. My advice is to stay focused on your long-term vision and remember why you started. Progress may not always be fast, but consistency builds result over time. It’s important to keep learning, adapt when necessary, and surround yourself with people who are growth focused. Every challenge is an opportunity to improve your systems, your skills, and your mindset. Most importantly, don’t quit during difficult moments. The same situations that feel like setbacks are often the ones that prepare you for the next level.

I like this one because I'm in the middle of it. Excited to get started but often discouraged about some of the funding process taking longer than I thought. Gotta stay the course and trust.